The UK Parliament is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to launch an investigation into Prime Minister Keir Starmer, amid suspicions that he may have misled the House of Commons regarding the appointment of former ambassador Peter Mandelson.
According to a report by *The Times*, Starmer has been at the center of criticism for months over his decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. The appointment has been opposed due to Mandelson’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of serious crimes and died in 2019.
The matter could have serious consequences for Starmer’s political future if it is proven that he provided inaccurate information to Parliament. So far, he has resisted calls to resign, despite mounting pressure.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle is expected to approve a debate and vote to decide whether the case should be referred to the relevant committee investigating potential breaches of parliamentary privilege.
Mandelson was dismissed last September after Starmer himself accused him of having “consistently lied” about his relationship with Epstein. According to *The Guardian*, the Foreign Office had granted him security clearance to take up the post in January 2025, despite reservations raised by a vetting committee.
The developments took a new turn after former senior British diplomat Ollie Robbins stated in Parliament that there had been “persistent pressure” from Downing Street during the process of Mandelson’s appointment.